Tips For High School Students

Ideas to Consider

Preparing for Undergraduate Studies

Read for enjoyment. Listen to audiobooks. Explore many kinds of books, especially the wonderful books that many people have enjoyed through the years – the classics in literature. People with a large vocabulary and who enjoy reading and understanding do better at university and on the MCAT. This is something that comes from a lifetime of reading and thinking and cannot be studied for quickly.

Enter university ready to take Calculus I. This will enable you to stay on track to accomplish your degree in four years.

Plan to take Chemistry I and Chemistry II, as well as Biology I and Biology II, at university. Medical schools prefer that you take your biology and chemistry courses at a four year accredited university. Consider other courses for IP or dual credit during high school.

If you’re from Texas, explore the Joint Admission Medical Program. If you fit their criteria, apply successfully, and keep up the required standards, JAMP guarantees a place in a Texas medical school, provides MCAT prep and provides summer enrichment.

Plan to spend your summers well. A senior in high school has only three summers before they apply to medical school at the end of the spring semester of their junior year in college. Look for interesting internships, shadow doctors, get jobs in medical offices, travel internationally, learn languages.

Planning for Medical School

Start building relationships with physicians. Get to know them. Shadow them at work if you can.

Look up the medical schools in your state, and get very familiar with their websites. There, you'll find information that will be very helpful.

Go to the AMCAS website, and check out the great information they have for prospective physicians.